Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on issues brought to the attention of the Committee which impact upon the planning, provision and/or operation of health services within Hampshire, or the Hampshire population.

a)    Dental Services Update

b)    Care Quality Commission Inspection Report – Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust Action Plan 

c)    Care Quality Commission Inspection – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Services

a)    Dental Services Update - NHS England and H&IOW CCG/ICS

Alison Cross, Senior Commissioning Manager from NHS England, attended virtually via MS Teams to present the item. Sara Tiller, representing the CCG/ICS, was also present as dental commissioning was due to transfer to the ICS in future.

A written update had been provided in response to questions that the Committee had raised at a previous meeting and members had been concerned that residents were having difficulties accessing NHS dental care.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

·         On a national scale, NHS dental provision was low but that private practice was increasing rapidly. Dentists qualified after 5 years of training and the NHS required a further 1 year of additional training. To enter into private practice, the additional training was not a requirement.

·         There was a national shortage of dentists, therapists, receptionists and nurses.

·         The contractual procurement obligations were very restrictive in enabling additional NHS practices to be established. The procurement of additional dentistry provision was underway but was not anticipated to be in place until at least April 2023.

·         Patients who were unsatisfied should raise complaints formally to enable them to be tracked. It was agreed to share the email address and telephone number for raising a complaint with all Committee members.

·         The recruitment for a new role within the CCG/ICS was underway and the post would be aimed at helping recruit and retain NHS dentists.

Overall the Committee agreed that there still remained significant difficulties for residents in accessing dental care. The Committee agreed that a further update should be requested for the September meeting. 

RESOLVED:

i)     That the Committee noted the update and requested a further report be brought to the September HASC meeting to address the ongoing issues.

ii)    That the Committee noted the challenges which existed as a result of a restricted contract/procurement process and agreed to lobby Hampshire MP’s to assist in this regard.

b)    Care Quality Commission Inspection Report – Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust Action Plan

Ron Shields, Chief Executive of the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, attended to present the report.

Following a CQC inspection, the Trust had received a ‘requires improvement’ rating in two areas – ‘are services safe?’ and ‘are services effective?’. The other domains were rated as ‘good’. Following a full report on the inspection to HASC in March 2022, the Committee had requested sight of the action plan in place to address the improvement areas. The detailed action plan was included within the agenda pack for the Committee to review.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that:

·         The Governing Board were providing effective scrutiny of the Trust and that this had been a focus for continual improvement to ensure that issues were being fully considered.

·         That the ‘ongoing’ status referred to within the action plan meant that the action point was still progressing but also that it did not have a defined end point and would continually be a work in progress due to the nature of the action.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Committee welcome the progress the Trust has made in completing a number of actions in response to the CQC findings.

ii)            That the Committee request the Trust provide an update to confirm once all the required actions have been completed.

c)    Care Quality Commission Inspection – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Services

Alex Whitfield, the Chief Executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), and Julie Dawes, the Chief Nurse at HHFT, attended to present the item.

Following a CQC inspection, the HHFT Maternity Services had received a ‘requires improvement’ rating. The findings of the inspection were presented to the Committee including a presentation on the actions being undertaken by the Trust to address the areas of concern.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that:

·         In response to national reports, investigations and incidents, such as the Ockenden Maternity Review, the Trust continually reviewed and compared with their own practices, reflecting upon what had been highlighted in other services which could also be a focus within Hampshire.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Committee welcomes the update and the Trust’s approach to continual self evaluation and improvement.

ii)            That the Committee request a further update on the improvements being implemented for it’s meeting in September.